Quotas are specific limits set on the amount of a product or service that can be produced, imported, or sold within a certain timeframe. They are often used by governments to control trade and protect local industries. For example, a country might impose a quota on the import of cars to encourage domestic manufacturing. In business, quotas can also refer to sales targets that employees must meet within a given period. These targets help companies measure performance and motivate their sales teams. For instance, a sales representative may have a monthly quota of selling 100 units of a product.